Defending champions Bahrain Rugby Football Club (BRFC) will face the Abu Dhabi Harlequins on home turf tomorrow in their seventh game of the 2023-24 West Asia Premiership.
The BRFC, who are seeking a fourth consecutive title after completing a hat-trick of championship triumphs in 2022-23, are unbeaten this season after winning five and drawing one of their six games and lie second in the seven-team table with 25 points, behind the Dubai Tigers, who are also unbeaten and have 28 points from six wins on the trot.
The Harlequins, meanwhile, are sixth, with nine points from just two wins and five defeats in seven games.
“We’re really excited for the weekend,” BRFC assistant coach Lindsey Gibson, who also plays as a forward, told the GDN.
“It should be a tough game. I watched the Quins last week against the Tigers and they were pretty unlucky to lose, to be honest, against one of the best teams in the league. A couple of turnovers cost them dearly because the Tigers are a massive threat.
“It’s amazing to get a home game – they’re always the best. We’re really looking forward to playing in front of the Red Wall. Hopefully, we’ll get a good crowd to come to the BRFC and support us.”
BRFC chairman Mike Cunningham told the GDN that the weekend was going to be jam-packed with rugby events.
“It’s going to be a great, jam-packed weekend of rugby,” he said.
“We’ve got the juniors competing, we’ve got the Golden Oldies, we’ve got the Bahrain Select against a British Navy ship and then, we’ve got the first team playing against the Harlequins.
“And, to top of it all off, this weekend is the start of the Six Nations, Europe’s premier national rugby competition featuring teams from the British Isles against France and Italy. So, great weekend of rugby – we’re all really stoked about it.
“The guys, the team – in fact, all our teams – are ready to go. Everybody’s been training hard and everyone is really stoked.”
However, Gibson warned that the Harlequins would prove to be difficult opponents, despite the BRFC winning the away fixture, 35-17, in Abu Dhabi last October.
“They look good and it should be a tough game,” he said.
“We had a hard time in the game against them earlier in the season so looking forward to welcoming them here.
“There’s only one change in our team from our last game against Doha Rugby Football Centre (Doha RFC) in Qatar two weeks ago. Matt Richards drops to the bench and Joel Kidgell comes in.
“Other than that, it’s pretty much the same squad. Joel Lewis is back on the bench too, for the first time since his shoulder surgery, so good to have him back involved in the first team.
“Meanwhile, the boys are buzzing to get some game time in front of the home crowd, so should be a good one!”
Cunningham added the club was looking forward to welcoming people to all the rugby events lined up for the weekend.
“We’re just looking forward to welcoming people down and showing them what a great weekend of rugby the BRFC can put on,” he said.
“If people haven’t witnessed rugby before, I encourage them to come down and see some of the games. It’s going to be a very, very exciting weekend!”
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